title: Differentiated patterns of cognitive impairment 12 months after severe and moderate traumatic brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess cognitive function at 12 months after moderate and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) separately, as well as improvement from 3 to 12 months and relationship to global outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cognitive function among patients with moderate (n = 30, Glasgow Coma Scale score (GCS) 9-3) and severe traumatic brain injury (n = 20, GCS score ≤ 8), recruited from an unselected neurosurgical cohort, all with MRI performed in the early phase were assessed with a neuropsychological test battery and Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended. Healthy volunteers (n = 47) matched for age, gender and years of education served as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Executive function was reduced at 12-months post-injury in patients with both moderate and severe TBI. However, motor function, processing speed and memory were reduced only among patients with severe TBI. Both patients with moderate and severe TBI improved their processing speed and visual memory. Patients with moderate TBI also improved motor function, while patients with severe TBI also improved executive function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differentiating between patients with moderate and severe TBI yields a more accurate description of cognitive deficits and their improvement over time. Further, executive dysfunction and attention problems affected the ability to resume independent living and employment regardless of injury severity and age.
authors.affiliation: Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare-Central Norway, Norwegian University of Science and Technology , Trondheim , Norway .
authors.forename: Torun Gangaune
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Finnanger
authors.forename: Toril
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Skandsen
authors.forename: Stein
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Stian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lydersen
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vik
authors.forename: Marit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Indredavik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013997:Time Factors; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D016896:Treatment Outcome